Chapter 25. Homecoming

ere he comes,” said Lemony quietly, an edge of anticipation causing an upswing in the pitch of her voice, “He’ll be thirsty after all that sweating and sleeping draught.”

Pendaran was parched and swallowing did not feel like an option.  He lay there with his eyes closed, listening as if from the bottom of a well.  So tired and heavy.  Would it always be like this?  Lemony stroked his brow and someone had claimed his left hand and was clutching it tightly.

“Come on, Pen,” Lemony soothed, “You’re home, now.  Don’t you want something to drink?”

He suspected there was more mesmer than monk in her at times. Although he had made no attempt to move or appear awake, she could sense him stirring at the surface of consciousness.  Pendaran smiled despite his weakness.  Lemony was with him.  He peeled open his eyes, greeted by an unfamiliar blur of colors.  Daylight and rich fabric and faces slowly swam into focus.  He was slightly propped up on pillows in a large canopied bed. Teleri sat on the blankets to his left with his hand resting possessively in her lap.  A strong tug of grief roiled his emotions as he reached out to her with his mind. So sad and alone.  He had missed her most of all.

Lemony was at his right in a chair pulled up to his bedside.  Kantele stood behind the monk clad in autumnal colors to match her hair.  She smiled gently upon him.

He felt Zhou’s presence before he saw him standing quietly at the foot of the bed.  His narrow face was lined with tension and he seemed to have aged since the summer.  Pendaran felt a rush of emotion upon seeing him, a mixture of gratitude, love and shame.

“No need for shame, Pendaran,” Zhou said gently into his mind, “You were frightened and hurt.  I was ill-prepared.”

“I should have gotten the letter translated immediately,” he thought sadly.  He had brought this upon himself and dragged all of these kind people along with him into misery.

“We cannot change what has happened,” Zhou replied, “The threat was greater than anticipated and I should have sent help rather than a piece of paper.  I failed you.”

“No, Master, I was willful and discounted the need for vigilance.”

Zhou looked away.

“It pains me to see you like this.  Please, do not blame yourself for the evil that was done to you, my friend.  That is how evil thrives.”

Pendaran was interrupted by Lemony pressing the edge of a bowl to his lips.  He drank of the cool water, swallowing with effort at first and then receiving the offering gratefully.  Her arm was warm against his back and nape as she helped him lay back once more.  She was maintaining an enchantment upon him and its gentle puissance soothed him, driving away pain as it filled him with light and energy.  He thanked her softly beneath his breath as she leaned over him to draw the sheet back under his chin.

“Think nothing of it, my darling,” she whispered back to him, “Just get well for me.”

“And for me,” Teleri said, squeezing his hand before leaning over to kiss his cheek.  More gratitude blended with a profound sense of sadness.  He realized how hard it had all been for Teleri and wished there was some way he could ease even a small measure of the pain he sensed in her.  She placed his hand over her belly and kissed him again, “and for her.”

There was another being within her, a vague cloud of warmth and contentment nestled sleepily within the safety of Teleri, her mother and her world.  Tears of joy brimmed his eyes and he murmured a prayer of gratitude to Lyssa and Dwayna both.  He was a father.  By the gods, what a sweet blessing they had bestowed upon him.

“Children conceived during the Rite of the 9th Hour are touched by Lyssa in powerful ways,” Zhou said into his mind, a grin softening the strain from his visage, “Congratulations, my friend.”

“I am happy,” he breathed and Teleri kissed him again but it was forced and her grief clouded the familiar radiance of her being.  How he had missed her.  Abruptly Pendaran thought of Mabane and gazed around the room in search of the boy.

“Where is your son?” he asked Teleri.

“He’s a slugabed like you,” she grinned, “I let him sleep in.  He’ll be along to sit with you later.”

“I’ll need paper and ink, and something to write upon.  Mabane needs to learn his letters.  I’ll begin there.”

“You also need food and rest,” Lemony said, “I can probably keep you off of mandrake during the day, but the nights may be rough since I can’t maintain an enchantment in my sleep.”

“You have a student?” Zhou asked, “When did this happen?”

“A day before I was attacked.”

“He asked you without prompting?  Freely?”

“Yes.  I tried to discourage him, but he kept asking and he is very talented…”

“Three times?”

“At least.  I thought he would never stop asking…”

“I see.  Then it is sealed,” Zhou said grimly, “It is the oldest and strongest of the bonds between Master and Student.  Good luck and may Lyssa guide you well.”

“What does that mean?”

Zhou sighed softly and bowed.

“I must depart.  The imperial guild census is only three days away and there is much still to be done before we journey to Raisu.”

“Will we see you at supper?” Lemony asked.

“Of course.  I do not expect to see Pendaran there, but I extend the invitation, nevertheless.  Be well, my friend, and recover quickly.”

He watched Zhou depart, puzzled by his words.  Then Teleri stroked his brow and curled her hand along his cheek, kissing him lightly upon the lips.  It seemed years had passed since their first innocent moments together.  And yet, despite the enchantment, he was too tired to act on his desires and could only smile as she lay beside him now, nestled against his breast and shoulder.  One day, soon he hoped, he would reward her for all the misery and grief he had caused.

“I’ll be in the sitting room if you need me,” Lemony said, rising from her chair.  Pendaran thanked her, knowing she could not stray too far from him without the enchantment falling away.  Her sacrifice moved him.  She gave of her time and energy so freely and he was humbled by it.

“If you don’t mind, I’ll keep you company,” Kantele offered, walking away with the monk.

“That would be wonderful.”

“Thank you, Lem,” he said to her retreating back.

Alone with Teleri at last, he urged her to lie in his arms and gathered her against him, his lips pressed to her golden crown as he spoke.

“This has been very trying for you, my love.  I’ll understand if you must leave to preserve yourself.”

She sobbed into his breast at his words, her grief finally cresting and spilling out over him. So much sadness and loss.  Nearly losing him had reopened her old wounds and now that she was pregnant, her mind and body were exhausted and could not take the added burden of Pendaran’s need.  He detected the knot of blackness that wreathed her gentle heart and felt it as vividly as if it were his own.  He loved her too much to insist that she suffer for him.

“Sooner would I be parted from you than have you endure so much pain at my side,” he whispered.

And yet her anguish eased and her tears grew less urgent.  She clung to him possessively and he sensed laughter percolating beneath the surface.  All she had needed was his permission to resent his wounding and helplessness. 

“Silly man,” she murmured, laughing and crying as she spoke, “Now that I’ve finally got you trained, do you think I’ll let you get away?”

“I hope not.”

“Good, because you’re mine, now, and I’m not letting you go.  And if Grenth tries to take you again, I’ll claw his eyes out and kick him in the nethers.”

Pendaran laughed softly, moved by her ferocity.

“You and Lemony would make quite a pair against the gods.  I should quite like to watch.”